Case Tumbler Kit - Heads Up

[fixedwheel]

Hi Folks
Just a heads up to a budget vibratory tumbler kit at a pocket money price (IMHO)
I'm just embarking on my reloading journey, have been harvesting my brass at the range, and cleaning in an ultrasonic bath that I already have. Just bagging, de-priming, and storing at the moment.
Spotted a kit on Amazon, have had some Smart Reloader bits from Optics Warehouse, (missed out on the tumblers they were selling cheap)
Anyways, for £73.11 delivered, thought worth the risk, and tracked it from dispatch in Italy to me over the last few days.
Tumbler states up to 150 x .223 cases, so should be big enough to do a range days cases
2kgs of cleaning media, 2kgs of polishing media, (both corn cob) sifter & bucket

Amazon product ASIN B07CHZZX7T

Just about to drop some cases in and try it out.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

You will need later to add an additive (Let the Turbo Charger Media Reactivator by Lyman restore the polishing performance of your corncob media).

 

[MarinePMI]

You will need later to add an additive (Let the Turbo Charger Media Reactivator by Lyman restore the polishing performance of your corncob media).

Kerosene and red jewelers rouge.

 

[bluesako]

Kerosene and red jewelers rouge.

for years i used dillon rapid in my tumbler it was fantastic but alas nobody stocks it here in the uk bs

 

[MarinePMI]

for years i used dillon rapid in my tumbler it was fantastic but alas nobody stocks it here in the uk bs

Dillon has been having problems with keeping things in stock lately, so no surprise (I just received a die the other day, that I ordered almost a year ago). Not sure if it is supply chain issues, or just the new management (Mike Dillon passed away a few years ago).

As to the mix (kerosene, just a splash or "glug" from the bottle) and red jeweler's rouge (about a 1/2 teaspoon or so). Toss in the kerosene first, run the machine to mix it, then toss the rouge in afterwards. I just finished a contract helping a guy stand up his ammo processing machines, and brass processing was a large part of it. And this was what was used initially (granted, in a cement mixer, since we were processing thousands of cases at a time; a bit more than a "glug" was needed). He ended up going to a commercial washer solution in the end, but that dry media, kerosene and red rouge worked well. It just left too much residue on the cases, which would have worn the tooling out much faster (especially the roll sizers).

But for the home loader, this wouldn't be an issue. We tested a few different methods and mixes, but this seemed to work the best for dry media polishing (walnut for really dirty, corn cob for final polish). Worked well in my little Lyman vibratory tumbler.

 

[bluesako]

cheers marine pmi im using a product called brasso it works well but if any one out there has any dillon rapid they arnt using i dont think using kerosene would be a wise choice in my house bs

 

[MarinePMI]

Not sure about the latest Brasso offering, but the old stuff had ammonia in it. A definite no-no for shell casings (ammonia weakens the brass).

 

[MarinePMI]

Looks like Brasso in the UK doesn't have ammonia in it, but does use naptha (which is similar to kerosene).

https://documents.alliancenational.co.uk/Products/MSDS - BRASSO Metal Polish - Liquid.pdf

 

[bluesako]

well thats brasso of my list

 

[fixedwheel]

Bloody typical! Optics Warehouse have had a big restock on Smart Reloader products.

They are doing the same kit I bought for £69.95, and the bigger kit for £91.95

I always pick the wrong queue at the supermarket....

 

[Lancaster]

Bloody typical! Optics Warehouse have had a big restock on Smart Reloader products.

They are doing the same kit I bought for £69.95, and the bigger kit for £91.95

I always pick the wrong queue at the supermarket....

I hope it lasts longer than my Smart Reloader Tumbler did, after a couple of months it died because the bearing was made of Plasticine....

 

[fixedwheel]

I hope it lasts longer than my Smart Reloader Tumbler did, after a couple of months it died because the bearing was made of Plasticine....

Well, if that happens I'll be on to Amazon Customer Services pdq.

Ta for the heads up. Where about is the bearing situated on the vibratory tumblers? And is it accessible?

 

[Lancaster]

Well, if that happens I'll be on to Amazon Customer Services pdq.

Ta for the heads up. Where about is the bearing situated on the vibratory tumblers? And is it accessible?

If I remember correctly it's easy to get to, just turn the tumbler upside down and take off the bottom cover off by removing the screws which I think were in the rubber feet, and the bearing was on the shaft between the motor and the drum.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I hope it lasts longer than my Smart Reloader Tumbler did, after a couple of months it died because the bearing was made of Plasticine....

Motor in mine died after a few months